COVID-19 Zambia Project #46079

COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR ZAMBIAN COMMUNITIES

by The Butterfly Tree

Project Report | Oct 1, 2020
COVID-19 DONATIONS ENABLE SCHOOLS TO REOPEN

By Jane Kaye-Bailey | Founder

Food donations - Mukuni Village

The World Health Organisation states that hunger in developing countries is increasing due to the impact COVID-19 is having on communities. This is very apparent where we are based in Zambia - people depend on tourism as their only source of income. Those working in lodges, hotels, activities and curio markets have had no work nor done any business since March.

Thanks to the support we have received hundreds of households in the Villages of Mukuni, N'gandu and Kamwi, situated in close proximity to the Victoria Falls, have received bags of maize, the staple diet of Zambians, to ease the situation. In addition, orphans and vulnerable children are being supported and given extra food. We have also helped schools to create sustainable feeding programmes and helping those pupils that are boarding.

Last month the Zambian government announced that all schools and learning facilities could reeopen. Previously only those in examination grades were permitted to attend to school. However, strict measures must be adhered to and with the weak economy many schools were unable to provide PPE to keep the children and teachers safe.

The donations from this project have enabled us to purchase soap, hand sanitsing gel and disinfectant for schools in the Kazungula District. Our flagship school, River View, has opened its doors to 1,500 pupils and last week officers from both the Ministry of Health and Education visited the site. They commended the school for the precautions they had put in place and thanked The Butterfly Tree for providing the neccessary supplies.

Parents are supposed to provide masks for their children, but sadly for many this has not been possbile. Though a mask costs only 50 cents, their priority is providing food. Singawamba School reported that out of 560 pupils, 283 were unable to provide masks and were not allowed to attend school. More donations are needed so that we can ensure that all children are back in education after a;read missing several months this year.

We are extremely grateful to the donors who have supported this cause and aim to continue raising funds and awareness until the pandemic eases. In total 21 schools and 30 clinics have received help so far.

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Jun 8, 2020
FUNDRAISING SUCCESS TO SUPPORT COVID-19 IN ZAMBIA

By Jane Kaye-Bailey | Founder

Locally made masks using medically approved design

I am pleased to report that despite the magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic our new financial year has got off to a positive start. This is mostly thanks to the continual support of our loyal donors and the success of the 2.6 challenge.

The 2.6 Challenge which took place on the 24th April was very well supported even though we had only one week to prepare. The Trustees, all did activities except for one who managed her 91- year old mother’s activity, walking up and down the garden 26 times, which raised a substantial amount of money.

Most of our volunteers took part, one kindly held free visual exercise classes, asking people to donate. 24 people participated, several of them donors, including the entire family of five! My young neighbours, age 6 and 9, heroically cycled 26 kms. Some people walked 2.6 miles and 5.2 miles, others ran up and down steps 26 times, danced to the song ‘Happy’ 26 times, and a 2.6 minutes headstand.

A huge thanks to everyone who took part, to our donors, and the new ones we gathered along the way! The funds raised are being used to support Zambia through the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of it will provide soap, buckets with taps, bowls, hand sanitising gel and disinfectant for schools. Pupils in grades 7, 9 and 12 who are sitting examinations later this year returned to school on the 1st June.

Twenty schools are being helped. There are 70 schools in the Kazungula District, therefore we are seeking further support as they are not permitted to open without adequate protection for pupils and teachers. We are also providing rural health centres with PPE equipment as the only form of protection medical workers have are gloves.

Two of the youths that were on The Butterfly Tree orphan sponsorship programme are producing masks to donate to schools and communities. Both tailors, they are making medically approved masks out of colourful cotton chitengi material.

To date there are 1,087cases of COVID-19 mostly in Lusaka and border towns. Zambia has eight borders, which makes in difficult when truck drivers are passing through daily. However, the Ministry of Health is testing the drivers and if found to be positive they must go to a designated quarantine area. It is hoped that the rural areas will be less affected.

We will continue to support rural schools and clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic, more donations will be greatly appreciated.

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